San Bruno fire damage may cost up to $1B

November 5, 2010 12:00:00 AM PDT

SAN BRUNO, Calif. --

The deadly gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno could end up costing Pacific Gas & Electric Co. $1 billion. PG&E revealed in a regulatory filing Thursday that the cost of repairing the devastated neighborhood, compensating victims, inspecting its pipes and other expenses could reach $550 million. Replacing valves on those pipelines are expected to cost $450 million.

The $1 billion figure doesn't include the cost of renovating the utility's gas network lines.

The Sept. 9 blast killed eight people and destroyed dozens of homes.

Consumer advocates are concerned customers will be forced to pay for those improvements.

But PG&E spokesman Jonathan Marshall says it's too early to speculate on how much money the company might seek from the California Public Utilities Commission for improvements.